Los Angeles Food, Events and Nightlife Blog

allston yacht club

I’ve been eyeing the St. Patrick’s Day specials going around Twitter all week and have finally decided on one – in Hollywood. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a ton of other options available. Whether you’re looking for a few special Irish menu items, a pub to knock back a couple ales, IrishÂ musicÂ or happy hour pricings (or any combination of the aforementioned) – these round-ups got them all:

Also, don’t forget Pourtal Wine Bar in Santa Monica, serving up $5 Vinho Verde (green wine that is ironically Portuguese) starting at 4PM.Â Verdugo Bar in Glassell Park is serving up Devil’s Pie late-night; wash it down with a brew on-tap. Hungry Cat in HollywoodÂ – where I’ll be – is offering $4 Murphy’s Irish Stout Irish Slings and $6 Picklebacks (whiskey with a chaser of pickle juice). Also, Allston Yacht Club in Echo Park will be serving up Corned Beef Sandwiches for $6 each and pints of Guinness for $4. All food is $5 as they integrate St. Patty’s with their Wicked Wednesday.

I’ve always wondered about the “sceney” brunch places around LA. There’s inevitably a patio, 5 dressed-up chihuahuas around said patio and a long wait for food. The pretty people make a day of it but let’s be real – sometimes you just really want a solid, no-nonsense brunch without spending too much more money the morning after a night of questionable choices made. There are few places I can think of in LA where you can go have said brunch with little hassle – but the good news is, if you’re an Eastsider, there’s always Allston Yacht Club.

Sweet potato fritters

It’s an affordable place that won’t sell you on its distracting scene – just the neighborhood appeal. Everything brunch (and lunch and dinner, actually) is priced under $10. A great thing to ease that splitting headache you may or may not have going on.

I visited AYC one Sunday early-afternoon for some treats with my web-dev-dude Roycifer. The sweet potato fritters were a good start – they had a surprising twist of cinnamon and were a nice flirtation with dessert. Next, we ordered cocktails – after all, brunch doesn’t have rules. I went festive and got a Figgy Pudding (fig-infused bourbon, egg nog and egg white). It really was a perfect holiday cocktail – the egg nog was at just the right weight (not too heavy) and entirely drinkable for any time of day. Yum. Royce went with a tequila cocktail in keeping with his spirit of choice: Basement window – utilizing tequila, Kahlua and pomegranate puree. This cocktail will take you down into said basement and beat you up if you forget what you’re drinking. A very strong cocktail so very subtly sweetened by the touch of Kahlua and puree, but so delicious. One of the weightier tequila concoctions I’ve tried and it’s very welcomed.

Basement window

I was feeling simple this particular day so I went with the classic biscuits & gravy. Chopped, sweet onions were in the gravy and fried sage topped the dish – sometimes, this is all you need to soak up the libations from the night before. Roycifer’s omelet, however, was one that I could’ve stolen off his plate had he not inhaled it first. The thickness to which the outside egg was cooked and the filling was hearty and hot.

If you’re in the area and looking to sit down for some reasonably-priced, imaginative neighborhood eats, look no further than Allston Yacht Club. Cocktails are also $9 or less and seasonal selections are always offered and successfully executed (see: Figgy Pudding). The good-time, no-nonsense vibe of the place is so down-to-earth, you’ll out-hip the hipsters who are shelling out $15 for pancakes.

If you’re an Eastsider and so much as wanted to have a neighborhood place to crash with a handful of small plates and glass of wine – you’re probably the kinda guy or gal Bill and Charles had in mind while launching their restaurant, Allston Yacht Club. They’re a pair of guys in entertainment who’ve been fulfilled to a good degree in one of their two dreams (the writing side). Allston Yacht Club – named after a Boston neighborhood by this, these couple of Bostonians, is the realization of that second dream. It was first opened last January and from what I understand has undergone significant yet effective growing pains. I had the privilege of a private tasting to learn what their venture was all about. They were super entertaining and a pleasure to share food with.

Yes, yacht club – in Echo Park. It takes no chances with letting you know they don’t take themselves seriously so you shan’t, either. But seriously – these guys are cool. Thank god – because hanging out at The Allston is like hanging out in their living room. And who wants to be in a living room inhabited by uncoolanybody?

The good news is that the vast majority of plates are within the $6-8 range so this is a great place to come here with friends, order a bunch of plates (designated by main meat dishes), snacks (smaller, non-meat plates) and/or sides (greens) and everyone gets to sample a little of everything.